The Hill News

It’s February, Congress recently re-convened, and the brawling has already begun. Fresh off a recess marked by angry debate over the appointment of Richard Cordray and the cancellation of the Keystone Pipeline, it seems highly unlikely that Congress can summon the will or skill to take on any major policy challenges. The realistic best hope for 2012 is that Congress will tread water, extending short term fixes to ongoing problems they can’t avoid because deadlines loom. They’ll extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance. They’ll fund the government bit by bit while continuing their perennial arguments over taxes, health care and the size of government. And they’ll reach November having avoided inflicting damage upon themselves or the country that lingers past Election Day.

In this “positive” scenario, the label “do-nothing” Congress will be fairly applied. Still, what Congress is doing while it’s “doing nothing” actually matt! ers a great deal. There is a rhythm to Congress. Every election year it seizes â€" accomplishing little as each party plays defense, trying to inflict damage on the other while taking no risks itself. Then, when the votes are tallied and a president settles into the Oval Office with four years of job security and a fresh Congress, he faces great expectations for early action. The first 100 days are in fact pivotal. Voter expectations are high and legislators fresh off their campaigns are ripe with ideas.

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